{"id":2459,"date":"2013-01-31T03:22:04","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T03:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=2459"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:22:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:22:29","slug":"singing-without-a-stutter-music-as-a-speech-therapy-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapy-techniques\/singing-without-a-stutter-music-as-a-speech-therapy-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Singing without a Stutter: Music as a Speech Therapy Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Source: ihavesvoice.info<\/p><\/div>\n

We all know the brain works in mysterious ways, but every so often we are reminded of just how magical it is. This is particularly so when we examine it\u2019s response to music in populations with Language disorders as a speech therapy technique<\/a>.\u00a0By now, you may have seen this video of American Idol contestant Lazaro Arbos\u2019 audition. While his rendition of \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water\u201d is astounding enough, watch what happens to his rather severe stutter<\/a> when he begins to sing:<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s so special about music?<\/h2>\n

Lazaro isn\u2019t the first to find that singing can help with language difficulties. Melodic Intonation Therapy<\/a> has been a useful treatment technique for Speech Pathologists for many years and was recently highlighted as a major component of Congresswoman Gabby Gifford\u2019s<\/a> recovery. Music\u00a0is used in the treatment of developmental and acquired disorders including Autism,<\/a> stuttering<\/a>, prematurity and brain injury patients.<\/p>\n

According the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA),<\/a> music therapy \u201cis the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elements of Music and the Brain<\/h2>\n

We know that music has special qualities that excite different areas of the brain. Some of these are quite similar to language and include prosody, stress, pitch and inflection. Therefore when we participate in or hear music, many parts of the brain must work together.<\/p>\n

Music stimulates the:<\/p>\n